The Teachings of Islam Chapter 9

A little background Islam began in the Arabian Peninsula and quickly spread throughout the Middle East, across North Africa, to Spain, and across central Asia The Islamic community blended many peoples and cultures Islam now has more followers than any religion except Christianity 1/5 of the world’s population is Muslim

The Koran The foundation of Islam Describes Allah’s laws and moral teachings, the straight path It contains passages that Muhammad is believed to have received from the angel Gabriel Muhammad could apparently not read or write, he memorized the passages and his followers later wrote them down into the Koran In 651, Caliph Uthman established an official edition of the Koran that is still used today Muslims honor the Koran by not letting copies of the book tough the ground or get dirty

The Sunnah and the Hadith The other foundation of Islam The Sunnah means “practice” This is the example that Muhammad set for Muslims during his lifetime of how to lead a Muslim life and follow the Koran The Hadith, tradition, is a collection of written accounts of Muhammad’s Sunnah as seen in his words and deeds

Shahadah: The 1st Pillar of Faith Shahadah means the declaration of faith and shows one’s belief in one God and Muhammad as his prophet. Muslims proclaim the words, “There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God” often throughout their days People must not only declare that they believe in God (Allah), but also must pledge their submission to him Muslims also believe that all souls will face a day of judgment when all of their actions will be weighed, allowing souls to enter paradise or fall into hell

Salat: The 2nd Pillar of Faith Salat means daily ritual prayer It emphasizes religious discipline, spirituality, and closeness to God Muslims are called to prayer 5 times per day: dawn, noon, midday, sunset, and after nightfall The muezzin (a crier) chants the call to prayer from the minaret (tower of the mosque) Muslims must wash hands, feet, and face before praying The imam is the prayer leader and worshipers face in the direction of Mecca Muslims may worship anywhere in groups or alone Muslims do not observe a sabbath, however on Fridays, Muslims gather at a mosque for midday prayer, listen to the imam’s sermon and to the Koran being read

Zakat: The 3rd Pillar of Faith Zakat means almsgiving or giving to the poor Muslims are commanded to give at least 2.5% of their wealth They do this in order to purify their wealth and also to control greed Zakat provides many needs including public fountains with clean water, hospitals, schools, soup kitchens, and orphanages, and shelter for the poor Other religions, such as Christianity (tithe) and Judaism (tzedaka) also emphasize helping the poor through charity

Siyam: The 4th Pillar of Faith Siyam means fasting, going without food Performed during Ramadan (the 9th month of the Muslim calendar), Muslims fast during the daylight hours Not ALL Muslims have to fast Break the fast with traditional foods before the sunset prayer By the end of Ramadan, Muslims have read the entire Koran Fasting teaches Muslims self control and makes them realize what it would be like to be poor and hungry Muslims try to avoid arguments and bad deeds and try to forgive people The end of Ramadan is celebrated with Eid al-Fitr

Hajj: The 5th Pillar of Faith Hajj is a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca All adults are expected to make a Hajj one time in their life Promotes equality and fellowship This is done in the Islamic year’s 12th month During Hajj, pilgrims follow the footsteps of Abraham and Muhammad in order to draw themselves closer to God The farewell day is celebrated by all Muslims around the world, called Eid al-Adha

Jihad Jihad means “to strive”- it represents the human struggle to overcome challenges and do things that would be pleasing to Allah Example: Muslims might work to become better people, reform society, or correct injustice Early Muslims claimed Jihad in their efforts to protect their territory However, Muslims are forbidden from forcing others to convert- Muhammad also set other rules for war- not to mutilate dead bodies, harm women children, old people, or civilians, and to not destroy property. Lesser Jihad- external struggle against oppression Greater Jihad- internal struggle against evil within oneself (working hard for a goal, giving up a bad habit, getting an education, obeying your parents, etc.)

Shari’ah: Islamic Law Shari’ah is the collection of all Islamic law and means “path to be followed” It promotes obedience to the Koran and respect for others It places actions into 5 categories: forbidden, discouraged, allowed, recommended, and obligatory (required) In a Shari’ah court, a qadi (judge) hears cases and makes rulings. Sometimes a mufti (scholar of law) is consulted. Today most Muslim countries apply some parts of Shari’ah and use other laws as well to respond to modern ways of life.